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Manchester A's 2002

This feature, and those to follow, will deal with the Manchester A's and their exploits on the playing fields of England during the 2002 season.

On the road to Glasgow - by Ian Marchment

Glasgow Stars 24 Manchester A's 25 after 10 innings

Wow. What a great game of baseball. A great advert for anyone looking to get interested in the sport. The Manchester A's travelled to Glasgow yesterday to take on the Glasgow Stars, and what a game it turned out to be. Great hitting, great pitching, great defensive plays, a great spirit throughout from both teams, never more than 3 runs separating the teams, the added drama of extra innings, and a game neither team deserved to lose.

The A's led for much of the game, although the Stars stayed close throughout. The first A's home run since at least the 1999 season, from Chris Jackson, helped the A's maintain their lead, although Glasgow stayed close thanks to solid pitching and great defensive work - prime candidate for catch of the game (if not the season) was made by Stars third-baseman Graham Donald - and led by three heading into the top of the 9th. A five-run inning from the A's meant the Stars needed two, which they duly scored. With the game-winning run on the bases, A's reliever Paul Fagan held his nerve and ended the inning.

Two runs from the A's in the top of the 10th put the pressure back on the Stars. Having scored one run and having the tying run on 2nd and the winning run at the plate, a fly-ball to Barry Joyce in deep left field ended the game and started the celebrations for the A's as they recorded their first win in 12 months.

A long day for the A's, but a worthwhile trip - the journey home flew by!

Apologies for the long-winded game report, but games like this are few and far between!

Ian Marchment
Manager, Manchester A's

Battle of the Wooden Spoon - by Bill Sheldrick

Manchester A's 13 Glasgow Stars 28 after 8 innings

Venue Manchester
weather overcast with high humidity to star -
becoming much sunnier as the afternoon wore on.

Yes, when most of the country were turning the minds to the bank Holiday weekend (an English holiday, not Scottish although our banks do shut because they are owned by colonial powers), or Gig on the Green (concert in Glasgow) or even the Final Four in Brighton, the two bottom clubs in the league, the Stars and the A's were facing up to each other to decide who finished second bottom in the league and who finished bottom. The first game between the two teams had gone to extra innings with the A's pipping the Stars 26-25 in 10 innings in a game that saw the lead seesaw back and forth. For the Stars, a few things had changed since then as that was the last game under the old regime. So, the battle for the Wooden Spoon was game on.

But almost not game on - as the Stars minibus owner-driver forgot that we had re-arranged the game and failed to show up. Hurried phone calls, panic, then a calm as we sorted out coming down in several cars. Our grand plan to arrive an hour early to relax, stretch, acclimatise to the local conditions were lost as we arrived just in time to take the field for the practice before the game.

The Stars scored 3 runs in the top of the first to draw first blood. Alex Patterson started on the mound for the Stars and carried a no hitter into the fourth inning, striking out nine overall, but unfortunately he also walked a few. Walking seven in the first inning meant the A's were 4-3 up after the first. The real only action other than Alex and Laurent Lot (catcher) playing catch was the odd throw to second and Gavin Mackintosh catching a pop up at second for the final out in the first. the stars tied the game in the top of the second and went ahead in the third by scoring three more. And if the first inning was boring for the fielders, the second and third were even more so as Alex struck out the side one inning and added another two in the next.

The no hitter ended in the fifth when a single scored two runs for the A's (of course, both runners had got on base with walks), and after 4 innings the score was 8-8.

The Stars broke the game open in the 5th scoring seven runs, including a 3 run homer by Bruce Macleod (ss). A towering shot that well cleared the 300 foot fence in left field. In the bottom of the fifth the A's scored 2 runs on a comedy of errors when a potential double play (diving catch by Bruce would have been followed by a throw out of the runner who had run on the hit) failed because the ball just passed under Bruce's diving glove and carried out into the outfield. The runner on second went to third on the hit. The throw to second stopped the runner at first, but the runner at third went home on the throw from the outfield. The throw from second to the plate was late. One run scored. The runner went to first to second and turned to go to third on the throw to the plate. The catcher then threw to third to stop the runner, the ball went over the third baseman's head into the outfield, but the left fielder had come in to cover the original passed ball. By the time the ball had been retrieved, the second runner had scored. Score now 15-10.

The teams traded 2 runs in the 6th which proved to be Alex's last inning. He loaded the bases with walks, and was relieved by Mike Devlin. He shut the A's down effectively. Not without getting into and out of the odd loaded bases drama, but he does seem to pitch better with the bases loaded. The Stars scored 2 more unanswered runs in the 7th, and 9 in the 8th. The A's got one back in the bottom of the 8th but it was not enough to avoid the game being called under the slaughter rule.

Offensively, pop-up Tommy Lei (cf) went 5 for 6 (of course, the 6th was a pop-up), Bruce bomber Macleod was 4 for 6 including the home run. Neil jeter love child Selvester (3B-LF), Laurent stopped the Lot, and Bill the old man Sheldrick(1B) went 3 or five with walks as well. Gordon of airdire Thompson (RF) did not get his hit but did get a walk and an RBI. Everyone got on base and scored at some point. Nobody stole nine bases. Defensively, we committed our fewest errors of any game of the season - and if we forget the comedy of errors, we were almost perfect. Gavin Mackintosh (2B) made 2 catches, Tom and George mcenroe Coulter (LF) made catches deep in the out field, and Bruce's acrobatic catch at shortstop ended the game. Laurent gunned two runners down trying to steal third with Neil applying the tags. Alex fergie jenkins Patterson got the win; Mike the kid Devlin got the save. The Stars won. The A's lost. And so ended the battle of the Wooden Spoon. We did not win it. Ya!

The Stars would like to take this opportunity to thank our hosts, the Manchester A's for their hospitality and their kind comments after the game. I am sure Donald beer drinker Selvester (our manager) ate enough sandwiches to make up for the players that had to depart immediately after the game! We have really enjoyed all of our games with the two Manchester teams. See y'all next year.

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